With the history of corruption within the Zuma Family that exceeds 20 years and has to date born little or no consequence it is of the utmost importance that we as a nation prevent a second round of State Capture!!! South Africa is the only country in the world that has banned the sale of tobacco products and tobacco related products. When it was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa that when moving into stage 4 of the National lockdown, 11 million smokers were relieved that we would not have to resort to being forced into criminal activity for exercising our constitutional right to smoke tobacco products. 

On the 29th of April 2020, Mrs Dlamini Zuma, the Minister for co-operative governance and traditional affairs announced that the sale of Tobacco products would, in fact not be permitted. 

It has since come to light within media that the Minister has ties to self confessed illicit cigarette smuggler Adriano Mazzoti. Various images have circulated both in the proffesional media and social media of the two smiling together for cameras. 

Whether there is any substance to the relationship I believe it is our constitutional right to be certain that the ministers ban on tobacco products has in no way motivated by her ties to Mazzoti.  In short, smoking is an addiction that most smokers are not prepared to be denied of and will defend their rights to do so vehemently. So with the sale of tobacco products prohibited,  only large retailers who have reputations to uphold will abide by these regulations. Therefore, the smaller traders who such as family shops run mostly by immigrants will at a much higher price supply the banned products, but to a large extent only sell illicit products which do not contribute the to countries tax revenue. The actual cost of the ban on Tobacco products is somewhat debated, however it is widely believed to be in region Of R36 million per day. Tobacco products are still and will continue to be sold on the black market and only illicit product smugglers will benefit financially from this. Smugglers to which Zuma has been directly linked. 

It is also worth mentioning that another Zuma family member, Edward Zuma is a director of Amalgamated Tobacco Manufacturers which is also suspected of producing illicit tobacco products.

The reasons given by Mrs Zuma for the ban are absolutely feeble and unfounded. Persons who do share a 'Zol', as she so eloquently put it, will continue to do so, but with illicit cigarettes. The unproven statement that smokers are more likely to contract Covid 19 are also wildly inappropriate as withdrawal symptoms from nicotine can have a huge effect an the human body. This fact is scientifically proven. This is reminiscent of her former husband's attempts at justifying his ludicrous behaviour and looting. 

It is highly unlikely that these facts are coincidental,  but there is sufficient evidence to at least have an investigation launched. 

We can not stand by anymore as spectators as Government officials disregard the law and plunder our our hard earned taxes. All at the expense of the South African citizen! Enough is enough. 

The stripping of our civil liberties is a gross abuse of the constitution and cannot be accepted. 

This petition will be forwarded to National Prosecuting Authority when we have 1 million signatures. 

We do not accept State Capture and we will not not stand for a socialist invasion of our Democracy.